[Closing of the filling cleft with copper and mercury compounds in fillings of silver-tin amalgams].

After measuring the tearing pressure of bubbles, the remaining marginal fissures (unavoidable with silver-tin amalgams) were completely eliminated by cauterizing cavities with an activated copper suspension. The effect is based on the activated copper forming voluminous basic Cu compounds. This procedure gives the silver-tin amalgam the bactericidal characteristics of a copper amalgam but essentially higher marginal strength. As expected, the teeth were not discolored. Measurement of mercury vapor showed a distinct decrease in the release of mercury vapor in the direction of the cavity.